#also this is the 2nd time amus mentions max will drive for redbull in 2026 as well

[grogumaximus]

Schmidt emphasizes. 'Horner already had the feeling at the beginning of the season, when he had headwind, that he could do anything. According to him, Red Bull would become world champion anyway. With Newey or without Newey, with Verstappen or without Verstappen.'

Horner then gave the 'there's no i in team' speech and that Red Bull would not force anyone to stay. Schmidt sees an interesting change in that area in particular. 'When the competition suddenly came closer, when they noticed that McLaren was getting stronger, that's when things changed. I remember speaking to Horner in Canada and he was worried that it was going to be tight with the constructors' championship. I think that's when he realised that it was getting serious.'

In Canada, Sergio Perez crashed for the second time in a row, after things had already gone wrong in Monaco. 'He knows that he will only have the support of the Thais as long as he is successful and wins with Red Bull. Then he suddenly realised: I need Verstappen', Schmidt thinks. 'He is very important to the team, because if the car is not top, Verstappen is the driver who takes victories and podiums, and not Perez or another driver who could replace him.'

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